<00:01:00>
“One minute left on the countdown. I wonder what kind of instance it will be this time.”
Fang Han had already prepared everything and was now sitting on his sofa at home, waiting for the countdown to hit zero.
<00:00:02>
<00:00:01>
<00:00:00>
<Instance mission starting, selecting instance, please wait...>
<Instance selected successfully: Mist Town (team-up available)>
<Instance Description: There is a town perpetually enveloped by mist from outside. During the day, the town is safe. At night, the mist enters the town. If you are inside a house, lock your doors and windows. Do not open the door, no matter what sounds you hear from outside, because they are not human.>
<Instance Missions: 1. Survive for 7 consecutive days and investigate Mist Town. 2. Eliminate three monsters. 3. Defeat the boss (optional).>
<Note: This is a special instance. Even if players die, the monsters cannot appear in the real world.>
“Interesting.”
Just as Fang Han was about to enter the instance, he received a message.
<Player 'Qingshui' invites you to join the instance 'Mist Town'. Do you accept?>
<Qingshui: Can this instance be teamed up for?>
<Xin Bu Re: What a coincidence, my instance is also 'Mist Town'.>
<Qingshui: Huh? Did a one-in-ten-thousand chance bring us together?>
<Xin Bu Re: One in ten thousand?>
<Qingshui: Anyway, the probability of entering the same instance is very small.>
<Xin Bu Re: Got it, let's go.>
Fang Han clicked 'accept', and the instance panel displayed new information.
<Joined team, difficulty increased.>
<If all players die in this mission, the mist will descend upon the corresponding real world.>
Fang Han: ...
Yuan Qingchen: ...
<Qingshui: Holy crap! Nobody told me that team-up instances could increase in difficulty! You f*cking...>
After a minute-long tirade from Yuan Qingchen.
<Large amount of abusive language detected, instance difficulty increased again.>
<Kill 10 monsters>
Fang Han: ...
Yuan Qingchen: ...
<Xin Bu Re: Stop cursing, or I'm afraid none of us will make it back.>
It took a while for Yuan Qingchen to calm down, then he clicked the 'enter instance' button.
<Entering instance 'Mist Town'. Time in the real world will not flow during this instance.>
Suddenly, the scenery before them shifted, and they arrived at the entrance of a small town. It was a typical American town; why so? Because the signs were all in English.
“Survive 7 days, investigate the town, and take down 10 monsters. I wonder if these monsters are tough to kill, or if they have any special mechanics.”
Fang Han was still wearing the Ultraman mask, just as Yuan Qingchen had seen him before.
Fang Han checked the current time, 12 PM, then the two entered the town.
Upon entering the town, several residents walked towards them.
“Outsiders, you shouldn't have entered this town. Now it's too late.”
A white-bearded man, who looked like the mayor, said to Fang Han and Yuan Qingchen.
“Mayor, excuse me, what happened to this town?”
The NPCs refreshed, and Yuan Qingchen, the social butterfly, began to show his strengths.
The mayor looked at the mist surrounding the town and sighed.
“The town wasn't always like this, enveloped in mist. Two years ago, this mist suddenly appeared and covered the town. At the time, everyone was just curious and didn't do anything else, after all, people still held reverence for the unknown.”
The mayor then looked at Fang Han and Yuan Qingchen, saying in a serious tone,
“That night, some 'people' appeared in front of many houses. Those people pleaded to enter the houses, but opening the door to them meant death.”
“Mayor, do you know how these monsters came to be?”
Fang Han suddenly asked.
The mayor looked at Fang Han, who was staring at him, and his gaze flickered for a moment.
“I don't know, they just suddenly appeared, hidden in the mist.”
Fang Han carefully observed the mayor, and after noting the expressions and actions of the others, he withdrew his gaze and politely said,
“Mayor, we are outsiders and don't understand the customs of your esteemed town. Please forgive any offense we may have caused. Also, could you help us find a place to stay?”
The mayor looked at Fang Han's sincere attitude and actually felt a little embarrassed.
“Don't worry, we won't easily drive away outsiders. During the day, the town is safe without the mist; those monsters only appear in the mist. As for your accommodation, you'll need to earn it through labor. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch.”
“Naturally, what do you need us to do?”
“You don't need to do anything now, but there might be something tomorrow.”
With that, the mayor took out a large bunch of keys and removed one from it.
“You can stay for free tonight, but starting tomorrow, you'll have to earn your right to stay through labor. For the rest of today, please familiarize yourselves with the town.”
After speaking, the mayor left with the others.
Fang Han and Yuan Qingchen watched the departing group, then exchanged glances.
“This town is clearly hiding something from us. What do you think?”
“I sense something isn't right, but I can't quite put my finger on it.”
“I have that feeling too. Let's split up and look for clues.”
Fang Han and Yuan Qingchen separated. Fang Han went east, where there was a slaughterhouse. Yuan Qingchen went west, where there were residents.
First, on Fang Han's side, as he reached the slaughterhouse, a wave of blood stench hit him.
“Ugh! I can't stand this smell.”
Fang Han endured the discomfort and checked the situation inside, but the next moment, he regretted it. Animal blood and organs were scattered everywhere inside.
After seeing it, Fang Han felt his sanity dropping rapidly. Immediately, Fang Han held his shield in his left hand and the white sheath in his right. He checked the mini-map and, seeing no red dots or even any living creatures, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He had won this mini-map in a lottery today.
“What kind of monster could have caused such a gruesome scene?”
Fang Han recalled the mayor's words,
“Since the monsters hide in the mist and the town is safe during the day, does that mean these monsters are afraid of sunlight?”
Thinking this, Fang Han couldn't help but look in the direction of the mist.
“Instead of thinking here, why not try pulling one out? Anyway, the mission requires killing 10 monsters.”
Fang Han walked directly towards the mist. On the other side, Yuan Qingchen, as expected of a social butterfly, quickly became acquainted with the townspeople.
“Sister, you're truly beautiful. Are there any taboos in our town?”
Yuan Qingchen asked a woman who looked about 40 years old.
“Oh my~, young man, your words are so sweet. Our town? Let me think, don't open the door at night, don't practice witchcraft... I think that's about it.”
“Don't practice witchcraft?”
Yuan Qingchen quickly caught the key point.
“What does that mean?”
“It means exactly what it says. All evil arts and witchcraft are not allowed in this town.”
The woman said sternly.
Yuan Qingchen now suspected that this witchcraft was connected to the mist and the monsters, but what the connection was, he would have to continue gathering information.
“I hope Xin Bu Re doesn't run into any trouble over there.”
Then Yuan Qingchen opened the instance's mission panel, but the missions on it had changed.
<Kill 10 monsters. Mission progress: 1/10>
Yuan Qingchen: (●—●)???
(PS: What do you all think would be a good development next?)